Game Notes: Griffins vs. Admirals - Nov. 22, 2019
Grand Rapids Griffins (9-7-1-1) vs. Milwaukee Admirals (12-3-1-2)
Game Time: 7 p.m. at Van Andel Arena
Game Day Preview - November 22 vs Milwaukee Admirals
Griffins Game #19 * Home Game #11 * AHL Game #265
Season Series: 1-1-0-0 Home Series: 1-1-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 99-65-7-7-8 All-Time Home Series: 54-31-2-2-3 All-Time Road Series: 45-34-5-5-5
Griffins vs. Admirals
Third of 10 meetings overall, third of five at Van Andel Arena…During Milwaukee’s current eight-game winning streak, the Admirals are outscoring opponents 39-22…Milwaukee has lost twice in its last 12 games and one of those was to the Griffins on Oct. 23…Grand Rapids has points in five of the last seven meetings at Van Andel Arena (4-2-0-1)...Michael Rasmussen has a series-high three points (0-3—3) in two games and Chris Terry has a series-high two goals…In the last meeting on Oct. 23 at Van Andel Arena, Calvin Pickard recorded his 13th AHL shutout behind 26 saves…The Griffins’ last three shutouts have all come against the Admirals (March 9 and Jan. 19, 2019)…In his career, Pickard is 9-4-2 with a 2.29 GAA and a 0.920 save mark in 16 appearances against Milwaukee…Pickard’s older brother, Chet, appeared in 43 games with Milwaukee from 2009-11 and registered 15 wins to go along with a 2.86 GAA, a 0.893 save percentage and one shutout…As an Admiral, goaltender Troy Grosenick, a Wisconsin native, is 5-3-1 with a 1.79 GAA and a 0.948 save percentage in nine games against the Griffins…The Griffins and Admirals began their rivalry in 1996-97 in the International Hockey League and Milwaukee is Grand Rapids’ most frequent opponent as the two will meet for the 187th time tonight…Head coach Ben Simon skated in 18 games with the Admirals during the 2003-04 campaign and finished with four points (1-3—4)...Since 2013-14, the Griffins are 40-19-2-1 against the Admirals, including 21-9-1-1 at home and 19-10-1-0 away.
0 to 100
The Griffins own 99 regular season wins against the Admirals, the most of any foe. In its history, Grand Rapids has squared off against 57 different teams since 1996-97 and next in line in terms of wins versus opponents are Chicago (85-61-2-6-3) and Manitoba (63-32-1-1-7).
Last Time Out (Wednesday): Rampage 3 at Griffins 4 - Recap
Turner Elson’s goal 23 seconds into the game was the fastest tally to open any period by a Griffin this season…Calvin Pickard recorded 27 saves to earn his 100th win in the AHL...Brian Lashoff played in his 600th game as a pro, 470 of which have been in a Griffins uniform...Rookie defenseman Moritz Seider recorded his first AHL goal as part of his first two-point outing...Rookies Ryan Kuffner (5) and Gregor MacLeod (3) contributed goals...Filip Zadina (five games) and rookie Joe Veleno (four games) both extended their point streaks...Grand Rapids has won five in a row against San Antonio and 15 of the last 17.
Status Update
The Griffins have won three of their last four games both overall and at Van Andel Arena and tie for third in the Central Division standings with a 9-7-1-1 record (20 points). Grand Rapids hosts the division-leading Milwaukee Admirals tonight to begin a weekend home-and-home set.
Pick-ing His Shots
Calvin Pickard is on a season-high four-game winning streak, showing a 2.00 GAA and a 0.935 save percentage in that span. The eight-year pro collected his 100th AHL victory behind 27 saves in Wednesday’s win against San Antonio.
Z-Score
Nineteen-year-old Filip Zadina is on a season-high five-game point streak (3-4—7) and just two shy of matching his career best. He has 11 points (5-6—11) in his last 11 games and places third overall on the club in scoring (6-6—12).
Apple Seider
The team’s top-scoring defenseman with 10 points (1-9—10), Moritz Seider ranks fourth among rookie blueliners in scoring and tied for 15th among all defensemen. Born April 6, 2001, Seider ties Ontario’s Tobias Bjornfot for the second-youngest player in the AHL this season. Only Bridgeport’s Simon Holmstrom (May 24, 2001) is younger.
Back Up, Terr
Chris Terry ranks second in the AHL in points (24) while pacing the Griffins in assists (15) and multi-point games (8) and tying for the team lead in goals (9). He has accumulated 18 points (7-11—18) in the last 13 games. In his 11th-year pro, Terry led the Griffins with 61 points last season and the most recent player to lead GR in scoring in back-to-back seasons was Andy Miele in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Knowing Our Own Power
The Griffins place fourth in the AHL in power play efficiency at 25.6% (20-for-78) and have scored in seven of the last nine games. Grand Rapids has netted two or more PPGs in a single game five times already this season, compared to eight in all of 2018-19. Chris Terry (6-6—12), Matt Puempel (3-6—9) and Filip Zadina (4-2—6) lead the way in power play points. The PP accounts for 31.7% of Grand Rapids’ goals.
Close Enough
Wednesday’s 4-3 win marked only third time the Griffins have been involved in a one-goal game this season, tying for the fewest in the league. Wednesday was also the first time a one-goal affair was decided in regulation, as Grand Rapids lost 4-3 in a shootout at Texas on Oct. 18 and fell 4-3 in overtime vs. Iowa on Oct. 30. In comparison, last year’s team had already played six one-goal games at this point in the season.
First Things First
Grand Rapids’ roster currently features five recent Detroit first-round draft picks (Moritz Seider 2019, Filip Zadina 2018, Joe Veleno 2018, Michael Rasmussen 2017, Evgeny Svechnikov 2015). Five of the Red Wings’ last six first rounders are on the west side of the state, with the exception being Dennis Cholowski (2016), who made Detroit’s roster following training camp. From 2002-15, the Griffins had only seven Detroit first rounders total suit up for them: Jakub Kindl (2005-11; 14-15), Niklas Kronwall (2003-06), Dylan Larkin (2015 playoffs only), Anthony Mantha (2014-15), Tom McCollum (2009-15), Riley Sheahan (2011-14) and Brendan Smith (2010-13). The Griffins’ opening night lineup had five Detroit first rounders in it, far surpassing the previous record of two. The Griffins had never seen more than three Red Wings first rounders suit up for the club at any point in the same season until this year. Adding in Matt Puempel (24th overall by Ottawa in 2011), Grand Rapids’ roster boasts six former first-round draft selections.
This Date in Griffins History
2002: Marc Lamothe makes 32 saves to extend his personal unbeaten streak to 11 games, a new franchise record, and Dave Van Drunen scores with 26 ticks left in overtime for a 3-2 win over San Antonio.
2005: Donald MacLean’s first hat trick in nearly five years leads Grand Rapids to a 4-2 win at Manitoba.
Griffins in General
Grand Rapids is in the franchise’s 24th overall season of play, 19th as a member of the American Hockey League and 18th as the primary affiliate of the 11-time Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings…Grand Rapids is 974-663-27-59-113 (0.585) in the regular season since 1996-97 to go along with 17 playoff appearances, seven division titles and two Calder Cups (2017, 2013)…The Griffins have earned 40 or more wins and accumulated 90 or more points in six of the last seven seasons…Grand Rapids has qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs in a franchise-record seven consecutive seasons and advanced to at least the second round on five occasions…The Griffins’ 8-5 season-opening win at Chicago on Oct. 5 marked the club’s 750th win in the AHL…Grand Rapids’ 314 regular season wins since the 2012-13 campaign tie Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for second behind Toronto’s 328 while the Griffins’ 681 points in that span are second, trailing only Toronto (712)...Since the affiliation began in 2002-03, 90 Griffins have gone on to play for the Red Wings.
Promotions
$2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs: Fans can enjoy $2 domestic drafts and $2 hot dogs from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last.
Get in the D-ZONE presented by Coppercraft Distillery: Every Friday night is a Griffins D-Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and get your $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served to you in your seats. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/dzonetoday to purchase a package of four or more D-Zone tickets for any Friday night game.
College Night presented by Michigan First Credit Union: Presented by Michigan First Credit Union, college students can buy online using their school .edu email address or show their ID at every Friday game to purchase an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $13 (or $12 in advance at The Zone) or an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $16 (or $15 in advance at The Zone). Limit one ticket per ID if purchasing in-person. Visit griffinshockey.com/college to sign up for College Night alerts.
Free Ride Friday on the Rapid: Ride the Rapid to and from any Friday game and enjoy complimentary fare by showing your ticket to the game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.
Photo by Sam Iannamico/Griffins